Summer 2007: Mackinac Island & Mackinaw City

I became a Big Sister to Brittanie Kammers and wanted to take her on a summer vacation to Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City.    My mom, Brittanie, Maggie, and I went on the trip.  We got a cheap hotel in Mackinaw Island that took pets.       We went through the shops in Mackinac City the first day.  I drove all of us over the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula so Brittanie could experience that.       

We had to leave Maggie in the room at the hotel when we went to Mackinac Island for the day.  Brittanie enjoyed taking the ferry over to the island. She was quite surprised when she got to the island and saw no automobiles.    We took one of the carriage rides around the island to get a tour.      I had taken my video camera along, so she enjoyed taking videos.

We had a wonderful lunch buffet at the Grand Hotel.   Brittanie was so fascinated by how fancy the hotel and dining room were.    We walked through the whole hotel, which is so beautiful.  We walked around the island and then through more shops. Then, we took the ferry back to Mackinaw City.   

Maggie enjoyed walking all around Mackinaw City.     I think we all had a good time on this vacation.

May 26-28, 2007: Maggies First Vacation to Jamestown, NY

Maggie went on her first vacation which was to Jamestown, New York, for the Lucy Desi Festival. Lucy Arnaz was here so we get to see her tomorrow.   We left Muskegon at 7 a.m. and stopped near Battle Creek. Then, we stopped at these outlet stores we saw near the I-80/I-69 highway.   Maggie liked everyone petting her.  She is a good little traveler.  She slept most of the time.

Anyway, we got to Jamestown around 6:30 p.m. Jamestown is about a 495 mile trip. I forgot how long it was to drive here. I was quite tired from this past week of being on the go and working.     Mom and I took turns driving.   I think my medication also makes me a little more tired too, especially in the mornings.

We got to the hotel and let Maggie roam in the room.  She looked so happy.
She ran all over checking out everything.  I think she was enjoying the traveling
like we do.

Mom and I had dinner at this Italian restaurant which was quite good. Mom had
Italian wedding soup and I had lasagna.  It was a big plate of lasagna, too.   Then,
we came back to the room and got Maggie and walked down to watch
"Lucy Under the Stars".  They played "I Love Lucy" shows on a building.
It was nice to sit outside, too.  Maggie was real good.

Lucy Arnaz did a little show and then cut the ribbon.   In the beginning, 

it started to rain, so they had to stop the program for about 5 minutes.  

But, then the rain stopped and they could continue.    We took Maggie 

to the gravesite of Lucille Ball.  Also, we took a tour at the playhouse. 

They have reproductions of the New York apartment 

sets and the California apartment sets. I snuck in a couple of pictures too.

Saturday evening, we went to the show, 'Tribute to Desi Arnaz' which 

was presented by his daughter, Lucy Arnaz.     It was quite good.   

Then, the highlight of our evening was the Gala we attended at this 

mansion.  

It was pretty neat.  We got to meet the actors who played the 

twin cowboys (Timmy and Jimmy) in one of theI Love Lucy episodes. 

They were 11 yrs old at the time that episode was done.  They are 

now in their 60s.  

We also met this lady, Angela, who is the personal manager 

for Sebastian, who owns this laughter Yoga school in LA.  They were 

on the April 11th Oprah show and telling about this new type of yoga 

that is becoming popular.    

My mom and I got to meet Lucy Arnaz and had our picture taken with her.   

She sure has a cute figure.   

She must work out alot to keep it up.  Lucy Arnaz is quite nice.

December 24, 2006: Thomas Family Christmas

My Grandfather was now living at Dayspring Assisted Living, as he could no longer live on his own at his home at 1370 West Giles Rd.       He got excellent care at Dayspring.   We exchanged our Christmas presents at Dayspring with Grandpa this year. 

November 30, 2006: Maggie's 3rd Birthday

It's that time of year again for a doggie birthday party.  I think this one was the best yet.   I got doggie ice cream for the dogs for dessert.    I got pizza and drinks for humans.   I made cupcakes and put little dog decorations on top.  I had fruit and chocolate fondue for the humans for dessert.  

Brittanie helped me decorate the apartment for the party.  She did a wonderful job. 

We invited my Grandpa Thomas to come to the party.    My friend, Tawana Pimpleton, whom I worked with at JCPenney on the straightening team, came with her kids.  Chrisie Workman, Kathryn, Kenny, Jim, Melanie, Julie, Scotty, and Brittanie came to the party. 

I came up with some new games.   The first one was the fastest dog dresser.  The second game was the best human dog barker.  The third game was the best dog kisser.   My friends made me kiss all the dogs, which was so funny. Kathryn, and Kenny's dog, Lacie, won that contest.      Finally, the last game was for humans to put a bowl on their head and see how many dog kibbles they could get in the bowl in 1 minute.   

Maggie got some beautiful birthday gifts, too.     She got a pearl necklace, chew toys, etc.   I gave the dogs a goodie bag to take home with them.        

September 2006: Mall of America & Door County

I played a game on the radio station, 107 WMUS and ended up winning 2 first class tickets on the Lake Express, as well as a spot for our car on the ferry and a $50 gift card.   We decided we would take the cross lake ferry to Milwaukee and then drive to the Mall of America in Minnesota.   It was nice to go back to the big mall, as we hadn't been there since 1993.     For my birthday, my mom got me this caricature portrait done in the Mall of America.  It was darling.   It was a picture of me walking Maggie in front of the Eiffel Tower.    It was the best gift for me.

Then, we drove to Door County, Wisconsin, as I had heard from my Aunt Charlene and Beulah how beautiful it was there.   

The first night in Door County, we stayed in Sturgeon Bay.   We went to Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, and Whitefish Bay. They were all beautiful places.       We dined at this Swedish restaurant called Al Johnsons, where they had grass and goats on the roof.     We also ate at this train restaurant called PC Junction, where the train goes around the bar and delivers your drinks and food.      

On our drive home, we stopped in Green Bay, Wisconsin at the Green Bay Packer stadium and took a behind-the-scenes tour.    I am so thankful for winning those wonderful tickets, so we could take this trip.   

July 31, 2006: Mom's 60th Birthday with Elvis

I decided that I wanted to do something special for my mom's 60th birthday, so I talked to my Aunt Charlene.  She suggested this Elvis impersonator from Grand Rapids, so she booked him for my mom's surprise birthday party.     We had the party at Sam's Joint in Coopersville.    My mom knew we were having a family dinner with Steve, Charlene, Kelsey, Matt, Devon, and Emma, but had no idea that we also invited her friends, Judy and George Zubrickas, as well as Bob and Becky Dykema.

My mom was so surprised when she got to the restaurant.  The Elvis impersonator was so funny.    Elvis sang to her, too.      It was so nice to see her so happy on her birthday. I will never forget that birthday.

July 30, 2006: Maggie in Grand Haven

The Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven usually occurs the last weekend in July.   I bought Maggie a cute sailor outfit and wanted her to wear it around Grand Haven.    We walked along the pier and I took some pictures of Maggie.   She was so cute in her pictures.     It was in the 80s, so I am sure it was hot for her to wear clothes, but she kept them on long enough for her photo shoot.